Proving my Worgan descent (General)

by anthonyworgan , Friday, May 04, 2018, 15:44 (2402 days ago)

For many years I have believed that my direct ancestor Anthony Worgan d 1746 was the grandson of Thomas Worgan, who was named as a son with 4 unnamed children in the 1668 WILL of his father Richard Worgan of English Bicknor.

Recently I was browsing on the National Archives website and came across a reference to a Litigation Bill 'Worgan v Wyndham 1714' on their online catalogue. The actual documents have not been digitised and cannot be downloaded, so I ordered the 3 quoted. They were expensive but saved me the equally expensive train fare to Kew. After transcribing the Bill document (very large - 3ft x 3ft and difficult to work on) it confirmed my theory.

Plaintiffs: Anthony Worgan (great grandson and heir of Richard Worgan and Sybil Worgan his wife; i.e. son and heir of John Worgan, who was son and heir of Thomas Worgan, the eldest son and heir of said Richard Worgan and Sybil Worgan his wife.
Defendants: Francis Wyndham, esq and William Symons alias William Holder

Apart from the genealogical details, the documents revealed that there was conflict within the family which was caused by Anthony Worgan d 1694 (a younger brother of Thomas) disputing a claim over inheritance rights of an enfeoffment (land held in trust) at Clowerwall - old name for Clearwell.

Without the benefit of surviving baptism/marriage/burial records for Thomas and his family, I can now positively link up 5 generations of my Worgan ancestors from these documents.
As a footnote: it seems that Thomas, 'went overseas and continued there to his death' so no wonder there was no WILL or trace of a burial for him in the Forest of Dean parish registers!